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Tedx Talk by Kate Nicholson: What We Lose When We Undertreat Pain

Kate Nicholson was working as a civil rights attorney for the U.S. Justice Department when a surgical error left her unable to sit or stand, largely bedridden, and in severe pain for almost 20 years. Using opioids as an appropriate pain management tool, she continued to function as a high-level federal prosecutor. In this talk, Kate pivots from her inspiring and excruciating story to examine the undertreatment of pain, showing how our approach to opioid abuse by 2.5 million Americans is hurting 50 million people in severe or persistent pain.

Kate Nicholson served in the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice for more than 20 years, practicing health-related civil rights law and securing powerful victories including in the U.S. Supreme Court. She is currently writing a book about her personal experiences with severe chronic pain. Kate is also an arts writer and enthusiast who helped found the new nonprofit, Tilt West, recently named by Westword as the “best think tank for arts and culture” in the area. Kate was a senior fellow at Dartmouth College and is a graduate of Harvard Law School.

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